NATO, Russian ambassadors meet to keep dialogue open

United States President Barack Obama gestures during a press conference ending the second day of the NATO Summit, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday, July 9, 2016. U.S. President Barack Obama and other NATO leaders have begun the second day of a summit meeting in Warsaw that's expected to lead to decisions about Afghanistan, the central Mediterranean and Iraq. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) (The Associated Press)

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. NATO and Russia remain at loggerheads over Ukraine but will consider a proposal to reduce the risk of an accidental military confrontation in Baltic airspace, NATO's chief said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. NATO and Russia remain at loggerheads over Ukraine but will consider a proposal to reduce the risk of an accidental military confrontation in Baltic airspace, NATO's chief said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

Ambassadors from NATO nations are meeting with Russian envoys to explain decisions taken at the recent alliance summit and attempt to reduce tensions with Moscow.

The Wednesday meeting at NATO's Brussels headquarters follows last week's gathering of alliance heads of state and government in Warsaw. Among other things, NATO leaders ordered a reinforcement of allies closest to Russia.

The initial reaction from Moscow has been negative. But both sides have welcomed a Finnish idea on how to reduce chances of an incident between NATO and Russian warplanes over the Baltic Sea region.

Dutch NATO Ambassador Marjanne de Kwaasteniet said the session of the NATO-Russia Council will also discuss the situation in Ukraine and Afghanistan. On Twitter, she said the meeting's purpose is to "keep dialogue with Russia open, despite differences."